Indexing machine



3 Sheets-Sheet l l lnuentovs N P berestmm cair V. Pa ne. ,1

Attal-neg c. P. BERGSTRM ETAL INDEXING MACHINE Filed Nov. 16, 1942 Sept. 26, 1944. C, P, BERGSTROM ETAL 2,358,904

INDEXING MACHINE Filed Nov.` 16, 1942 -3 sheets-sheet 2 ,if I

lnuerztovs Cem P. Bevestrom Otmar V. Paume fl? Attorneg Patented Sept. 26, 1944 UNITED srm'ri-:sv PATENT, oFFicE NDEXING MAcmNE Carl P. Bergstrom, Millbury, and Oscar V. Payne, Leicester, Mass., assignors to Crompton & kKnowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 16, 1942, Serial No. 465,720

12 Claims.

This invention relates to indexing machines for graduating collars, sleeves, disks, etc., usable on such machine tools as lathes, milling machines and the like, and it is the general object of the invention to provide simple means by which long and short graduations may be cut automatically. Many machines in addition to those already mentioned employ a graduated circular surface on a rotatable part in which an angular movement equivalent to the distances between graduations corresponds either to a predetermined linear or circular movement. To facilitate reading it is customary to elongate the graduations at regularly recurring intervals, such as one in five. Because of the necessityl for cutting graduations of two different lengths it has been customary in the past to index and scribe the graduations by hand.

' It is an important object. of our present invention to provide a scribing or cutting head actuated by a regularly moving part, such as a crank,

and change the range of movement of the head relatively to the work toward and from the latter at periodic intervals, such as every fifth stroke of the head. The work is moved transversely of the cutting stroke in a step-by-step movement between cutting operations to space the graduations.

It is another object of our present invention to provide a reciprocating tool carrying head driven by a lever an intermediate part of which has a given amplitude of motion together with a pivot for that end of the lever opposite the head so controlled as to shift the range of thecutting stroke relatively to the work-y whenever a long graduation is desired. In this way the cutting part of the stroke of the tool head is lengthened periodically without requiring a change in the stroke of its actuator.

The graduations generally start with a long cut to be followed by several shorter cuts, such as four, after which a long cut is again produced. In order that the start of the indexing operation may always start with a long cut it is a further object of our present invention to provide a visual signal which by its position indicates when the machine is set to make a long stroke. If set for a short stroke the machine may be turned by hand until the signal is in position corresponding to a long stroke.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as our description proceeds, our invention resides in the combination and arrange]- ment of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of our invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine made according to our present invention, arranged to index a cylindrical surface,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. lon an enlarged scale,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the upper part of Fig. 1 showing the operating lever for the I2 to a counter shaft I3 to which is secured a second pulley I4. A belt I5 leading from pulley I4 drives a small pulley I6 secured to the main shaft II of the machine which is journaled in and extends through a housing VI8 which may be of rectangular form as shown in Fig. 2 and formed as part of the base I0.

A large gear 20 is mounted loosely for rotation on shaft II and has a hub 2I formed integrally y with a cam 22. Within the housing I8' the shaft I'I has secured thereto a pinion 23 which meshes with a gear 24 keyed as at 25 to a stub shaft 26 extending forwardly through a bearing 21 on the front wall of the housing and having secured to the forward end thereof a pinion 28 meshing with the large -gear 20. The ratio of the gear 20 and pinion 28 may conveniently be rive to one, and the pinion is provided with a crank 30 carrying a driving pin 3| adjustable therealong and having pivoted thereon the right end of a driving rod 32, see Figs. 1 and 2. The pinion 23 and gear 24 provide a speed reduction between the pulleygl and the pinion 28 and this reduction may be of any desired ratio not dependent upon the relative sizes of gear 20 and the pinion 28.

' The .gear 24 is provided with radially extending ways 35 along which is adjusted a bolt 36 held in position by a nut 31. The bolt is ordinarily eccentric with respect to the stud 26 `and passes through a block 38, see Figs. 3 and 4, which is slidable in a longitudinal slot 39 of an actuating lever 40. The bolt 36 provides means by which the actuating lever is rocked from the full to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 as the gear 24 makes a half revolution.

'The upper end of the actuator lever is pivoted as at to a link 46 pivoted at 41 to a studs |03 carried by the housing and supply the sliding tool carrying head 48 mounted on and` axis around which the lever |00 rocks. The guided by the top of the rectangular housing cross bar |05 of the lever isv connected to the I8 The left end of the head as shown in Fig. lowerend of a heavy tension spring |06 the 3 is provided with a tool carrier 50 to which 5 upper end of which is attached to a stationary is pivoted a tool post 5| carrying the scribing stud |01 on the housing I8.

or graduating tool 52 the lower end of which is The front side arm ||0 of the lever |00 has preferably formed'withasmall Veshapdcutting rotatably=mounted thereon a rollv III for enedge. A handle 53-on` a vertical -screw 54-V gagement Withthe cam-22. Each hub I0| and mounted on the head 48' and controlling the l0 |02 is provided with a short depending arm ||4 tool carrier 50 provides means for raising and@ and a rod IIS secured to the two arms ||4 eX- lowering the tool post, and a screw holdstends through horizontal slots I6 in the side the tool 52 in the post. w'allsiof 'the housing 8. Rod |I5 provides the The collar or other piecey `of work W"toF be pivotal'support for4 the lower end of the actuator operated upon is held in an indexing` headlI-Llllever'flllandi'its .position determines Whether shown in'Fig. 1 and in section in Fig. 2. This* short orlong-graduations are to be cut. The head comprises a bearing stand fastened tocam-22 has a long high dwell |20l corresponding an end wall of the housing Aand affording 'sup-l" ih the present instance to approXimately 4/s 0f port for a shaft 6I. rThe forward end of the its periphery and a 10W dwell l2'- shaft has loosely mounted thereon a feed leverv 2o IiP-OperatiOIl, the gearing already described |55 connected to the left end of the driving rod. causes-theV paWl 66- t0 give Shaft 6| and Worm 32"asA viewed in Fi'gfltoroek back and forth l2faf countereclockwise angular movement as as the pinion 2851'otates.y Afeed lpavvl-'l is piv- Viewed in Figi-fl `fo`r every StrOke 0f the machine oted on the lever and operates a ratchet wheel and tlieworm SI2,A actingthrough the Worm gear Il bolted as at |58l to ai'lange .69 the hub 'IIIv 25 13, turns'theshaft 'I4 zto cause the work to be of which is keyed to shaftV 6|." fed-.angula'rly'. with a step by step movement. Within the indexing1 .head Ithelsheft 5| has The numberof teeth on the ratchet wheel 67 secured thereto a Worm 12 which meshes with a Will-determine the number of steps required t0 Worm gear 13 keyed tc e Shaft 14 rrctetteble in ei'ct the complete rotation of the flange 11 and rightand left sleeves 'l5 and 16, respectively, fmtheworkcarried b'yitj The ratchet is replaceable as Seen. ln Fig 2 A faceplate 11115 secured-,t0 withother ratchets having a different number the'shaft 'M to have secured thereto the .collar ofl teethand it is. for this reason that the ratchet cr other plececf Wcrktc -be greduated-` ASv wheel is ydetachablymounted on the plate 69. Shown in Figfl the werkte. be operated von.l has At the start ofthe cutting operationwhen e, cylindrical/flange. an. heldiby belts] `3| .tc -the er it desired to cut. a long stroke Lthe machine face plate 11. When the Workhto be Operated- Will betrned` Irlanually tolocate the 10W dwell onI is large andfrequires additional supportthe |2 `over the rollA III, thereby permitting the tail stock-8e3 may loeused.` Sleeves orlbushings spring |0'6`to rock the lever ||0 in a. counter- 15 vvmw-l5 are eccentric Aand cernfbeturned. t0. clockwise direction las Viewed inFi'g. l'to move take-up lost motion..A between the Worm and its lo the rod `V| |5 "toirthe right, or-to the dot and dash gear, Y line .position shown in Fig. 5. With the fulcrum The Shaft '14, .Sleeves .15@ and` 16,.' andY wom Ofvhl/Vlo'thuS mOVed t0 the right, the driving Wheelfl 3.1"(-3-Carpfled.A by, .Cradle 85 n'lounedv bld-Ck 38'W11rII1OVe 'the-1'lead 48 t0 its @Xtreme for angularmovementonoushings 8.!5 heldl in.. leftpo'sition indicated by the dot and dash line thebearingfstandIO-andnthrough-which 'passes 45 position a Vofthe .tool Tin Fig. 3- AfterY the lOrig shaft 5L The buehirlgsereflcceted insplit beargraduation has thushbeen cut the head 48 will ings`8`| onlstand `(S0-and a-rerheldfV clamped in Ihie` t0 the right, hilt`A before it hasitsr next their beeringseby-bclteg The bushingctheremotion' to the left the high dwell |20 will depress foreserve asbearingsfonboth' the cradle and the 4F011 Hl, .thereby mOVing the rod I5 to the shaft 5|, Aidependingerrr1..,9v integral With- 50 left',,or tothe fullline position shown'in Fig. the cradle'carries abolt9| whichpasses-through 5.? Therahge 0f movement'of thehead is therea slot 92concentricwithshaftelandformed freShiftd'tO the right and the. tool moves in. the bearing. Stand. M T'he belt. holds the only to theidotted line position o to cut a short cradle in adjusted angular position relativelytograduation S on' itSheXt stroke.

the standn 60. When-the -surfacewtei-bevgrad; 55A After the required number of theshort grad uatedis cylindrical. eschcwnet geinpig., 1` nations are cut,. four in the present instance, the shaft 'I4 will be horizontal, but 'ifthewerkA duringiwhic'h time the high dwell controls lever has a conical surface 94"asin`Fig.6, the cradle UYthe IW dWell |21 Will` again arrive over will be rocked and .clamped .at the proper angler rollA I, whereupon the operations already deby bolt 9|. vGradueticne gestemd. 50N at the 60 scribed willibe repeated. Thus itis that as the Side of Slot g2 enable thecperetcr tcdetermine shaft I1 continues to rotate, the tool 52 will move the angle at which shaft 4'I4 should` be inclined.. to'theposition a 0f Fig- 3 eVery fifth InOVemeIlt AS shown Ain Fig, 1tlfie greduetlcns erreur.. of'the head'48 to the left and will move only feceggcf; enge 30j are beth long and. Short, to thepositionb on the intervening four strokes. a longgr'aduation L occurring-at regular in- 65 For the praeti'ealoperation of the machine it tervalsl'with the short graduation S therebeidesir'able'that` theorator know how cam 22 tween. In orderthat the Cutting, tool and the is Set,r that is, Whether it iS in a position to cause head torwhich it is lsecured may be controlled a long or' 'ashort cut; In order that a visual indifor Vcuttingleoth' the long-and lshort graduations cationmaybe provided for this purposewe secure We provide means for changingthe location ofa lifter pin |30 on the gear 20 and provide a light theplivotatth lower end Yo1 the actuator leverr sheet metal indicator. or signal having a lower 4I).v In-carr'yin'g'this feature of our invention arni I3Is1ottedas at |32 to lit around shaft into efctwe provide a U-'sha'ped lever- |00 havandprovided ,withY a' shelf' I 33 lying in the inghubs'll and I 02' onopposite sides of the path' ofA the pin |30. An'upright stem |34 the housing I8. 'I'hes 'e"'hi1b'sare mounted on aligned 75- top' oi`V which is distinctively colored extends through and is guided by a guard |35 held to the housing |8 to protect the operator from contact with the driving belts.

'Ihe position of pin |30 is such with respect to low dwell |2| of the cam that the shelf |33 will be lifted to elevate the stem |34 above the guard |35 during that fth of the rotation of the gear 20 corresponding to a long cut L. For the remaining 4/5 of the rotation of -shaft 20 the pin will be too low to engage the shelf and the visual indicator will therefore be down and hidden by guard |35. While specifying that the visual indicator is up 1A; of the time and down 4/5 of the time to correspond to the order in which the long and short graduations arecut, We are not limited to this ratio, but it is convenient to have the stem |34 visible Whenever the machine is set to cut a long line L.

When the work to be graduated is large and heavy enough to require use of the tail stock, it may be advantageous to employ a check to prevent accidental angular movement of the shaft 6|. For this purpose we provide a lever |40 pivoted at |4| to the machine frame and having the free end pulled upwardly by a heavy tension spring |42 the top of which is fixed to a-clip |43 on the housing |8, see Figs. l and 2. A notched check Wheel |45 secured to the shaft 6| receives a detent |46 on the lever. As the paWl 66 positively moves the shaft 6| the detent moves from one notch to the next notch and operates to prevent turning of the Work on the idle or return stroke of the pawl. Where the t of the parts is close we nd it unnecessary to use the check wheel. n

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have provided a simple machine for indexing or graduating surfaces which move transversely of a' path traversed by the cutting tool, and that weV have produced the long and short graduations by effecting a relative movement between the` Work and the range of movement ofthe cutting tool. It will further be seen that We employ an actuating lever for the tool which receives a given stroke from the driver or the like and moves the lever about a center which shifts to two different positions one of which causes the tool to out the long graduations andthe other of which causes the cutting' of the short graduations. It will also be seen that we coordinate the step by step transverse movement of the work with the working stroke of the cutting tool by means of a cam or the like which moves with the train of gearing which drives the machine and controls a shifter for the lever pivot. It will further be noted that a signal gives visual indication when the machine isset to cut a long gradnation. The eccentric bushings '|5 and 16 afford means for taking up Wear between the worm and its gear for the purpose of keeping these parts always in tight driving relation with respect to each other. A further important feature resides in the fact that the shaft 14 can be adjusted angularly so .that conical surfaces can be graduated. .All of the operations of themachine are automatic and the scribing of the long and short graduations proceeds during continued running of the machine without requiring constant attention from the attendant.

Having thus described our invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what we claim is:

1. In an indexing machine to scribe long and short marks on the surface of a body to be indexed, a scribing tool and carrier therefor, means to mount the carrier for sliding reciprocating movement along a given path, feeding means to lever, and mechanism operating in timed relation with said feeding meansto change the locus of movement of said lever to cause the carrier and scribing tool to move through one range of motion for certain transverse positions of said surface relatively to said path to cause the tool to cut short marks in said surface and cause said lever to move said carrier and tool through another range of motion to cause said tool to cut longer marks in said surface for certain other transverse positions of said surface relatively tov said path.

2. In an indexing machine to scribe long and short marks on the surface of a body to be indexed, a scribing tool movable along a given path to cut long and short marks in said surface, feeding means to give the body a step by step movement transversely of said path to present different portions of said surface to the tool, a carrier for saidr tool guided for reciprocation along a rectilinear path toward and from said body, a lever operatively connected at one end to said carrier, an actuator having a fixed range of motion acting on said lever to move the latter, a pivot for the other end of said lever, and means operating in time relation relatively to said feeding means to shift the position of the last named pivot to change the locus of movement of said lever and causeV said lever to move the carrier and tool through one range along said path for certain transverse positions of said surface With respect to the path to cut short marks in said surface and move said carrier and tool through a different range closer to said body when said pivotis shiftedto cause said tool to move through a range closer to said body to cut longer marks in said surface for certain other transverse positions of said surface relatively to said path.

3. In an indexing machine to scribe long and short marks on the surface of a body to be indexed, a scribing tool movable along a, given path to cut long and short marks in said surface, l

feeding means to give the body a step by step movement transversely of nsaid path to present .different portions of said surface to the tool, a

carrier for said tool guided for reciprocation along a rectilinear path toward and from said body, a lever operably connected at one end thereof to said carrier, a driving shaft, a crank thereon operatively connected to the lever and moving through a fixed range to oscillate said lever, a pinion secured to said shaft, a. gear meshing with said pinion, a cam secured to and rotating' with the gear, and means operated by the cam and connected to the other end of said lever to change the 'location of said other end periodically to cause said crank to effect movement of the tool through different ranges of motion along said path to cut said long and short marks.

l4. In an indexing machine to scribe long and short marks on the surface of a body to be indeXed, a scribing tool movable along a. given path to cut long and short marks in said surface, feeding means to give the bod;7 a step by step movement transversely of said path to present different portions-of said surface to the tool,; a

carrier for said tool` guided for. reciprocationy along a rectilinear path towardand from said.

bodyy a driving lever operablyconnected at `one end thereof to said carrier, a constantly rotating crank operatively connected to the lever to oscillate the latter, `a pinion turning with the crank, a gear meshing with the pinion, a cam rotated by said gear, apositioning lever connected to the other end of said driving lever and operated by.v

said cam to move said other end of the .driving lever at periodic intervals and cooperate the said crankto cause the tool to move through different ranges of motion along said path to cut said long and short marks.

5. In an indexing machine to scribe long. and short marks on the surface of a body to be indeXed, a scribing tool movable along a given path to cut long and short marks in said surface, feeding ymeans to give the body a step by step movement transversely of said path to present different portions of said surface to the too-l, a carrier for said tool guided for reciprocation along a rectilinear path toward and from said body, a`

driving lever operably connected at one end thereof to said carrier, a rotating crank operatively connected to the lever, a pinion rotating with said crank and operatively connected to` said feeding means to operate the latter, a gear meshi ing .with said pinion, and mechanism operated by said gear due to rotation thereof by the pinion andoperatively connected -to the other end of.

ent portions of said surface to the tool, a carrier f' for said tool guided for reciprocation alonga rectilinear path toward and from said body, a driving lever operably connected at one end thereof to said carrier, a rotating member having a sliding and driving relation with respect to said lever to oscillate the latter, a pinion rotating with said member. and having a rotation for each complete oscillation of the driving lever, a gear meshing with the pinion, and positioning mechanism operatively connected to. the other end of said driving lever and operated by said gear due to rotation thereof to shift the position of said otherend of said driving lever and cooperate with said member to cause the tool carrier and tool to move through different ranges of motion along said-path to scribe the long and short marks, the ratio of the number of teeth on said pinion and gear meshing therewith determining the frequency with which the long` marks are made with respect to the .short marks.

'7. In an indexing machine having a scribing. tool element movable along a given path to scribe. long and short. marks ona body element whichv moves transversely of said path with a step ,by step movement, a rotating actuator, a rocking member operatively connected to said actuator and caused by said actuator vto rock back` and forth asl the actuator rotates, connections between one end of said rocking member and one of said-elements, and positioning means operating in timed relationwith said actuator to 1ocatethe other end of said-*rocking member` inA two.. differentpositions, said positioning .means when..kv locating said other i end.. in, one position thereof causing said actuator andrrocking member to move said one element through one range of motion along said given path to cause the tool element to cut short marks on the body element and when locating said other end of rsaid memberim the other position thereof causing said. actuator and member to move said one element through a different range of motion along said given path to cause said tool element to cut -1 tioning. means operating .in timed relation vwith Y saidrotating actuator to locate the other end of said rocking member in two different positions, said positioning means when locating said other endV in one of thepositions thereof causing said actuator and member to move said scribing tool through one' range of motion along said path to cutv short marks on said body and when locating said other end in the other position thereof causing said actuator and member to move said scribing tool through a different range of motion along said path to cut long marks on said body. Y

9, Inan indexing machine having a scribing tool movable along a given path to scribe long and short marks on a body which moves ltransversely of said path with a step by step movement, an actuator moving in a fixed path, a rocking member operatively connected to said actuator and caused to rock back and 'forth by said actuator as. the latter moves in said fixed path, connections between one end of said member and said tool, and positioning means operating in timed-relation with said actuator to locate the l other end of'said member in two different positions, said positioning means when locating said other' end in one position thereofcausing said actuator and member to move said tool through one range of motion along said given path to out short marks on said body and when locating said other end in the other position thereof causing said actuator and member to move said tool througha different range of motion along said given path to cut long marks on said body.

l0. In an indexing machine having a scribing tool movable along a given path to scribe long and short marks on a body which moves transversely of said given path with a step by step movement, a rotating actuator, a rocking member operatively connectedintermediate the ends thereof to said actuator and caused to rock back and forth by the actuator as ,the latter rotates,

said member having one end thereof operatively connectedl to said tool, and positioning meansv operating in timed relation With said actuator to locate the other end vof said member 'in two different positions, said positioning means when locating said other end in oneposition thereof causing said actuator and member to .move said tool through one. range. of motion. along said givenpath to out shortmarks on said body and When locating said other end in the other position thereof causing said actuator andmember to move said.1 tool through., a different range of.

motion along said given path to cut long marks on said body.

11. In an indexing machine for automatically scribinlg lines of different lengths on the surface of a body member to be indexed, a regularly moving driver, a scribing tool, an actuator for the tool connected to the driver and caused by the latter to give said tool scribing strokes While in engagement with said body, feeding mechanism connected to the driver and caused by the latter to move said body at regular intervals to move said surface transversely of the direction of said strokes of said tool with a step by step motion, means constituting a movable pivot for said actuator, and positioning mechanism operatively connected to said means and operating in timed relation with said feeding mechanism to move said pivot from one position thereof to another position thereof and thereby cause said actuator to vary the length of said scribing strokes and cause said tool to scribe lines of different lengths on said surface.

12. In an indexing machine for automatically scribing lines of different lengths on thesurface of a body member to be indexed, a scribing tool, an oscillating actuator to reciprocate said tool along a path toward and from said body to cause said tool to scribe lines on said surface, feeding mechanism for said body to give said surface a step by step motion transversely of said path, means constituting a movable pivot for said actuator, and controller mechanism operatively connected to said means and operating in timed relation with said feeding mechanism to move said pivot to different positions, said pivot when in the different positions thereof causing said actuator to move through different ranges of motion and move said tool along said path toward said body to different stopping points preparatory to movement of the tool away from said body for different positions of said surface transversely of said path to cause said tool to scribe lines of diierent lengths on said surface, each different position of said pivot corresponding to a different vstopping point.

CARL P. BERGSTROM.

OSCAR V. PAYNE. 

